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Dominicus LS, van Rijn L, van der A J, van der Spek R, Podzimek D, Begemann M, de Haan L, van der Pluijm M, Otte WM, Cahn W, Röder CH, Schnack HG, van Dellen E. fMRI connectivity as a biomarker of antipsychotic treatment response: A systematic review. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 40:103515. [PMID: 37797435 PMCID: PMC10568423 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antipsychotic drugs are the first-choice therapy for psychotic episodes, but antipsychotic treatment response (AP-R) is unpredictable and only becomes clear after weeks of therapy. A biomarker for AP-R is currently unavailable. We reviewed the evidence for the hypothesis that functional magnetic resonance imaging functional connectivity (fMRI-FC) is a predictor of AP-R or could serve as a biomarker for AP-R in psychosis. METHOD A systematic review of longitudinal fMRI studies examining the predictive performance and relationship between FC and AP-R was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Technical and clinical aspects were critically assessed for the retrieved studies. We addressed three questions: Q1) is baseline fMRI-FC related to subsequent AP-R; Q2) is AP-R related to a change in fMRI-FC; and Q3) can baseline fMRI-FC predict subsequent AP-R? RESULTS In total, 28 articles were included. Most studies were of good quality. fMRI-FC analysis pipelines included seed-based-, independent component- / canonical correlation analysis, network-based statistics, and graph-theoretical approaches. We found high heterogeneity in methodological approaches and results. For Q1 (N = 17) and Q2 (N = 18), the most consistent evidence was found for FC between the striatum and ventral attention network as a potential biomarker of AP-R. For Q3 (N = 9) accuracy's varied form 50 till 93%, and prediction models were based on FC between various brain regions. CONCLUSION The current fMRI-FC literature on AP-R is hampered by heterogeneity of methodological approaches. Methodological uniformity and further improvement of the reliability and validity of fMRI connectivity analysis is needed before fMRI-FC analysis can have a place in clinical applications of antipsychotic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S Dominicus
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - L van Rijn
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - J van der A
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - R van der Spek
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - D Podzimek
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M Begemann
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - L de Haan
- Department Early Psychosis, Academical Medical Centre of the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M van der Pluijm
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W M Otte
- Department of Child Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, and Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - W Cahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - C H Röder
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - H G Schnack
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - E van Dellen
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Intensive Care Medicine and UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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de Boer JN, Voppel AE, Brederoo SG, Schnack HG, Truong KP, Wijnen FNK, Sommer IEC. Acoustic speech markers for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: a diagnostic and symptom-recognition tool. Psychol Med 2023; 53:1302-1312. [PMID: 34344490 PMCID: PMC10009369 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721002804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinicians routinely use impressions of speech as an element of mental status examination. In schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, descriptions of speech are used to assess the severity of psychotic symptoms. In the current study, we assessed the diagnostic value of acoustic speech parameters in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, as well as its value in recognizing positive and negative symptoms. METHODS Speech was obtained from 142 patients with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and 142 matched controls during a semi-structured interview on neutral topics. Patients were categorized as having predominantly positive or negative symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Acoustic parameters were extracted with OpenSMILE, employing the extended Geneva Acoustic Minimalistic Parameter Set, which includes standardized analyses of pitch (F0), speech quality and pauses. Speech parameters were fed into a random forest algorithm with leave-ten-out cross-validation to assess their value for a schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis, and PANSS subtype recognition. RESULTS The machine-learning speech classifier attained an accuracy of 86.2% in classifying patients with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and controls on speech parameters alone. Patients with predominantly positive v. negative symptoms could be classified with an accuracy of 74.2%. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that automatically extracted speech parameters can be used to accurately classify patients with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and healthy controls, as well as differentiate between patients with predominantly positive v. negatives symptoms. Thus, the field of speech technology has provided a standardized, powerful tool that has high potential for clinical applications in diagnosis and differentiation, given its ease of comparison and replication across samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. N. de Boer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems and Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University & University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - A. E. Voppel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems and Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - S. G. Brederoo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems and Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - H. G. Schnack
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University & University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - K. P. Truong
- Department of Human Media Interaction, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - F. N. K. Wijnen
- Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - I. E. C. Sommer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems and Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Voppel AE, de Boer JN, Brederoo SG, Schnack HG, Sommer I. Quantified language connectedness in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Psychiatry Res 2021; 304:114130. [PMID: 34332431 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Language abnormalities are a core symptom of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and could serve as a potential diagnostic marker. Natural language processing enables quantification of language connectedness, which may be lower in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Here, we investigated connectedness of spontaneous speech in schizophrenia-spectrum patients and controls and determine its accuracy in classification. Using a semi-structured interview, speech of 50 patients with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and 50 controls was recorded. Language connectedness in a semantic word2vec model was calculated using consecutive word similarity in moving windows of increasing sizes (2-20 words). Mean, minimal and variance of similarity were calculated per window size and used in a random forest classifier to distinguish patients and healthy controls. Classification based on connectedness reached 85% cross-validated accuracy, with 84% specificity and 86% sensitivity. Features that best discriminated patients from controls were variance of similarity at window sizes between 5 and 10. We show impaired connectedness in spontaneous speech of patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders even in patients with low ratings of positive symptoms. Effects were most prominent at the level of sentence connectedness. The high sensitivity, specificity and tolerability of this method show that language analysis is an accurate and feasible digital assistant in diagnosing schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Voppel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - J N de Boer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, UMCU Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - S G Brederoo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - H G Schnack
- Department of Psychiatry, UMCU Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Utrecht University, Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Iec Sommer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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de Nijs J, Schnack HG, Koevoets MGJC, Kubota M, Kahn RS, van Haren NEM, Cahn W. Reward-related brain structures are smaller in patients with schizophrenia and comorbid metabolic syndrome. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2018; 138:581-590. [PMID: 30264457 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Metabolic syndrome (MS) is highly prevalent in schizophrenia and often a consequence of unhealthy behaviour. Reward-related brain areas might be associated with MS, since they play a major role in regulating health behaviour. This study examined the relationship between MS and brain volumes related to the reward system in schizophrenia. METHOD We included patients with schizophrenia, with MS (MS+; n = 23), patients with schizophrenia, without MS (MS-; n = 48), and healthy controls (n = 54). Global brain volumes and volumes of (sub)cortical areas, part of the reward circuit, were compared between patients and controls. In case of a significant brain volume difference between patients and controls, the impact of MS in schizophrenia was examined. RESULTS Patients had smaller total brain (TB; P = 0.001), GM (P = 0.010), larger ventricles (P = 0.026), and smaller reward circuit volume (P < 0.001) than controls. MS+ had smaller TB (P = 0.017), GM (P = 0.008), larger ventricles (P = 0.015), and smaller reward circuit volume (P = 0.002) than MS-. MS+ had smaller orbitofrontal cortex (OFC; P = 0.002) and insula volumes (P = 0.005) and smaller OFC (P = 0.008) and insula cortical surface area (P = 0.025) compared to MS-. CONCLUSION In schizophrenia, structural brain volume reductions in areas of the reward circuitry appear to be related to comorbid MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- J de Nijs
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - H G Schnack
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M G J C Koevoets
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M Kubota
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Functional Brain Imaging Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - R S Kahn
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - N E M van Haren
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - W Cahn
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Cahn W, Hulshoff Pol HE, Bongers M, Schnack HG, Mandl RCW, Van Haren NEM, Durston S, Koning H, Van Der Linden JA, Kahn RS. Brain morphology in antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia: A study of multiple brain structures. Br J Psychiatry 2018; 43:s66-72. [PMID: 12271803 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.181.43.s66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundAlthough brain volume changes are found in schizophrenia, only a limited number of structural magnetic resonance imaging studies have exclusively examined antipsychotic-naïve patients.AimsTo comprehensively investigate multiple brain structures in a single sample of patients who were antipsychotic-naïve.MethodTwenty antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 20 healthy comparison subjects were included. Intracranial, total brain, frontal lobe, grey and white matter, cerebellar, hippocampal, parahippocampal, thalamic, caudate nucleus and lateral and third ventricular volumes were measured. Repeated-measures analyses of (co)variance were conducted with intracranial volume as covariate.ResultsThird ventricle volume enlargement was found in patients compared with the healthy subjects. No differences were found in other brain regions.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that some brain abnormalities are present in the early stages of schizophrenia. Moreover, it suggests that brain abnormalities reported in patients with chronic schizophrenia develop in a later stage of the disease and/or are medication induced.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Cahn
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Bootsman F, Brouwer RM, Schnack HG, Kemner SM, Hillegers MHJ, Sarkisyan G, van der Schot AC, Vonk R, Hulshoff Pol HE, Nolen WA, Kahn RS, van Haren NEM. A study of genetic and environmental contributions to structural brain changes over time in twins concordant and discordant for bipolar disorder. J Psychiatr Res 2016; 79:116-124. [PMID: 27218817 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
This is the first longitudinal twin study examining genetic and environmental contributions to the association between liability to bipolar disorder (BD) and changes over time in global brain volumes, and global and regional measures of cortical surface area, cortical thickness and cortical volume. A total of 50 twins from pairs discordant or concordant for BD (monozygotic: 8 discordant and 3 concordant pairs, and 1 patient and 3 co-twins from incomplete pairs; dizygotic: 6 discordant and 2 concordant pairs, and 1 patient and 7 co-twins from incomplete pairs) underwent magnetic resonance imaging twice. In addition, 57 twins from healthy twin pairs (15 monozygotic and 10 dizygotic pairs, and 4 monozygotic and 3 dizygotic subjects from incomplete pairs) were also scanned twice. Mean follow-up duration for all twins was 7.5 years (standard deviation: 1.5 years). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling software OpenMx. The liability to BD was not associated with global or regional structural brain changes over time. Although we observed a subtle increase in cerebral white matter in BD patients, this effect disappeared after correction for multiple comparisons. Heritability of brain changes over time was generally low to moderate. Structural brain changes appear to follow similar trajectories in BD patients and healthy controls. Existing brain abnormalities in BD do not appear to progressively change over time, but this requires additional confirmation. Further study with large cohorts is recommended to assess genetic and environmental influences on structural brain abnormalities in BD, while taking into account the influence of lithium on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Bootsman
- University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - R M Brouwer
- University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - H G Schnack
- University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - S M Kemner
- University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M H J Hillegers
- University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - G Sarkisyan
- University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - R Vonk
- Reinier van Arkel, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | - H E Hulshoff Pol
- University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - W A Nolen
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - R S Kahn
- University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - N E M van Haren
- University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Bootsman F, Brouwer RM, Schnack HG, van Baal GCM, van der Schot AC, Vonk R, Hulshoff Pol HE, Nolen WA, Kahn RS, van Haren NEM. Genetic and environmental influences on cortical surface area and cortical thickness in bipolar disorder. Psychol Med 2015; 45:193-204. [PMID: 25065711 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291714001251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk of developing bipolar disorder (BD) has been linked to structural brain abnormalities. The degree to which genes and environment influence the association of BD with cortical surface area remains to be elucidated. In this twin study, genetic and environmental contributions to the association between liability to develop BD and surface area, thickness and volume of the cortex were examined. METHOD The study cohort included 44 affected monozygotic (nine concordant, 12 discordant) and dizygotic (four concordant, 19 discordant) twin pairs, and seven twins from incomplete discordant monozygotic and dizygotic discordant twin pairs. In addition, 37 monozygotic and 24 dizygotic healthy control twin pairs, and six twins from incomplete monozygotic and dizygotic control pairs were included. RESULTS Genetic liability to develop BD was associated with a larger cortical surface in limbic and parietal regions, and a thicker cortex in central and parietal regions. Environmental factors related to BD were associated with larger medial frontal, parietal and limbic, and smaller orbitofrontal surfaces. Furthermore, thinner frontal, limbic and occipital cortex, and larger frontal and parietal, and smaller orbitofrontal volumes were also associated with environmental factors related to BD. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that unique environmental factors play a prominent role in driving the associations between liability to develop BD and cortical measures, particularly those involving cortical thickness. Further evaluation of their influence on the surface and thickness of the cortical mantle is recommended. In addition, cortical volume appeared to be primarily dependent on surface and not thickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Bootsman
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht,Utrecht,The Netherlands
| | - R M Brouwer
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht,Utrecht,The Netherlands
| | - H G Schnack
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht,Utrecht,The Netherlands
| | - G C M van Baal
- Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht,Utrecht,The Netherlands
| | - A C van der Schot
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht,Utrecht,The Netherlands
| | - R Vonk
- Reinier van Arkel Group, 's-Hertogenbosch,The Netherlands
| | - H E Hulshoff Pol
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht,Utrecht,The Netherlands
| | - W A Nolen
- Department of Psychiatry,University Medical Center Groningen,Groningen,The Netherlands
| | - R S Kahn
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht,Utrecht,The Netherlands
| | - N E M van Haren
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht,Utrecht,The Netherlands
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Rais M, Cahn W, Schnack HG, Hulshoff Pol HE, Kahn RS, van Haren NEM. Brain volume reductions in medication-naive patients with schizophrenia in relation to intelligence quotient. Psychol Med 2012; 42:1847-1856. [PMID: 22357376 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291712000098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Global brain abnormalities such as brain volume loss and grey- and white-matter deficits are consistently reported in first-episode schizophrenia patients and may already be detectable in the very early stages of the illness. Whether these changes are dependent on medication use or related to intelligence quotient (IQ) is still debated. METHOD Magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained for 20 medication-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 26 matched healthy subjects. Volume measures of total brain grey and white matter, third and lateral ventricles and cortical thickness/surface were obtained. Differences between the groups were investigated, taking into account the effect of intelligence. RESULTS Medication-naive patients showed statistically significant reductions in whole-brain volume and cerebral grey- and white-matter volume together with lateral ventricle enlargement compared to healthy subjects. IQ was significantly lower in patients compared to controls and was positively associated with brain and white-matter volume in the whole group. No significant differences in cortical thickness were found between the groups but medication-naive patients had a significantly smaller surface in the left superior temporal pole, Heschl's gyrus and insula compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that brain volume loss is present at illness onset, and can be explained by the reduced surface of the temporal and insular cortex. These abnormalities are not related to medication, but IQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Rais
- Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Collin G, Derks EM, van Haren NEM, Schnack HG, Hulshoff Pol HE, Kahn RS, Cahn W. Symptom dimensions are associated with progressive brain volume changes in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2012; 138:171-6. [PMID: 22534419 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2012.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2011] [Revised: 03/19/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is considerable variation in progressive brain volume changes in schizophrenia. Whether this is related to the clinical heterogeneity that characterizes the illness remains to be determined. This study examines the relationship between change in brain volume over time and individual variation in psychopathology, as measured by five continuous symptom dimensions (i.e. negative, positive, disorganization, mania and depression). METHODS Global brain volume measurements from 105 schizophrenia patients and 100 healthy comparison subjects, obtained at inclusion and 5-year follow-up, were used in this study. Symptom dimension scores were calculated by factor analysis of clinical symptoms. Using linear regression analyses and independent-samples t-tests, the relationship between symptom dimensions and progressive brain volume changes, corrected for age, gender and intracranial volume, was examined. Antipsychotic medication, outcome and IQ were investigated as potential confounders. RESULTS In patients, the disorganization dimension was associated with change in total brain (β=-0.295, p=0.003) and cerebellar (β=-0.349, p<0.001) volume. Furthermore, higher levels of disorganization were associated with lower IQ, irrespective of psychiatric status (i.e. patient or control). In healthy comparison subjects, disorganization score was not associated with progressive brain volume changes. CONCLUSION Heterogeneity in progressive brain volume changes in schizophrenia is particularly associated with variation in disorganization. Schizophrenia patients with high levels of disorganization exhibit more progressive decrease of global brain volumes and have lower total IQ. We propose that these patients form a phenotypically and biologically homogenous subgroup that may be useful for etiological (e.g., genetic) studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Collin
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Psychiatry, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
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van Soelen ILC, Brouwer RM, van Baal GCM, Schnack HG, Peper JS, Collins DL, Evans AC, Kahn RS, Boomsma DI, Hulshoff Pol HE. Genetic influences on thinning of the cerebral cortex during development. Neuroimage 2011; 59:3871-80. [PMID: 22155028 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.11.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2011] [Revised: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 11/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
During development from childhood to adulthood the human brain undergoes considerable thinning of the cerebral cortex. Whether developmental cortical thinning is influenced by genes and if independent genetic factors influence different parts of the cortex is not known. Magnetic resonance brain imaging was done in twins at age 9 (N = 190) and again at age 12 (N = 125; 113 repeated measures) to assess genetic influences on changes in cortical thinning. We find considerable thinning of the cortex between over this three year interval (on average 0.05 mm; 1.5%), particularly in the frontal poles, and orbitofrontal, paracentral, and occipital cortices. Cortical thinning was highly heritable at age 9 and age 12, and the degree of genetic influence differed for the various areas of the brain. One genetic factor affected left inferior frontal (Broca's area), and left parietal (Wernicke's area) thinning; a second factor influenced left anterior paracentral (sensory-motor) thinning. Two factors influenced cortical thinning in the frontal poles: one of decreasing influence over time, and another independent genetic factor emerging at age 12 in left and right frontal poles. Thus, thinning of the cerebral cortex is heritable in children between the ages 9 and 12. Furthermore, different genetic factors are responsible for variation in cortical thickness at ages 9 and 12, with independent genetic factors acting on cortical thickness across time and between various brain areas during childhood brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- I L C van Soelen
- Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Postbus 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
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11
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Van Haren NEM, Koolschijn PCMP, Cahn W, Schnack HG, Hulshoff Pol HE, Kahn RS. Cigarette smoking and progressive brain volume loss in schizophrenia. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2010; 20:454-8. [PMID: 20227855 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2010.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2009] [Revised: 12/21/2009] [Accepted: 02/13/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
It is unknown whether the reported brain loss in schizophrenia can be attributed to the effects of tobacco smoking. 96 Patients (54 smokers/42 non-smokers) and 113 control subjects (35/78) were included in a 5-year longitudinal MRI study. Despite the higher prevalence of smoking behavior and the higher number of cigarettes consumed per day in the patients, cigarette smoking did not explain the excessive cerebral (gray matter) volume decreases in the patients. Moreover, smoking was not associated with brain volume change over time in the healthy subjects. However, extremely heavy smoking may contribute to excessive gray matter volume loss in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- N E M Van Haren
- Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Cahn W, Rais M, Stigter FP, van Haren NEM, Caspers E, Hulshoff Pol HE, Xu Z, Schnack HG, Kahn RS. Psychosis and brain volume changes during the first five years of schizophrenia. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2009; 19:147-51. [PMID: 19056248 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2008] [Revised: 10/10/2008] [Accepted: 10/28/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The underlying mechanisms explaining brain volume changes in schizophrenia are not yet understood, but psychosis might be related to these changes. Forty-eight patients with first-episode schizophrenia underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging brain scanning at inclusion and after five years. An association was found between longer duration of psychosis, larger gray matter volume decrease and larger ventricular volume increase. These findings strongly suggest that psychosis contributes to brain volume reductions found in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Cahn
- Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Cahn W, van Haren NEM, Hulshoff Pol HE, Schnack HG, Caspers E, Laponder DAJ, Kahn RS. Brain volume changes in the first year of illness and 5-year outcome of schizophrenia. Br J Psychiatry 2006; 189:381-2. [PMID: 17012664 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.105.015701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Progressive brain volume changes have been reported in first-episode schizophrenia, but their relationship to the disease process or to other factors remains unclear. We examined such changes in the first year of illness, and related them to 5-year outcome. Progressive brain volume changes, in particular of grey matter, during the first year of illness were found to be significantly associated with clinical and functional outcome 5 years after the first episode. These findings suggest that early dynamic brain volume changes are related to the disease process and predict the longer-term outcome of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Cahn
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 GX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Durston S, Fossella JA, Casey BJ, Hulshoff Pol HE, Galvan A, Schnack HG, Steenhuis MP, Minderaa RB, Buitelaar JK, Kahn RS, van Engeland H. Differential effects of DRD4 and DAT1 genotype on fronto-striatal gray matter volumes in a sample of subjects with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, their unaffected siblings, and controls. Mol Psychiatry 2005; 10:678-85. [PMID: 15724142 DOI: 10.1038/sj.mp.4001649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Genetic influences on behavior are complex and, as such, the effect of any single gene is likely to be modest. Neuroimaging measures may serve as a biological intermediate phenotype to investigate the effect of genes on human behavior. In particular, it is possible to constrain investigations by prior knowledge of gene characteristics and by including samples of subjects where the distribution of phenotypic variance is both wide and under heritable influences. Here, we use this approach to show a dissociation between the effects of two dopamine genes that are differentially expressed in the brain. We show that the DAT1 gene, a gene expressed predominantly in the basal ganglia, preferentially influences caudate volume, whereas the DRD4 gene, a gene expressed predominantly in the prefrontal cortex, preferentially influences prefrontal gray matter volume in a sample of subjects including subjects with ADHD, their unaffected siblings, and healthy controls. This demonstrates that, by constraining our investigations by prior knowledge of gene expression, including samples in which the distribution of phenotypic variance is wide and under heritable influences, and by using intermediate phenotypes, such as neuroimaging, we may begin to map out the pathways by which genes influence behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Durston
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Cahn W, Hulshoff Pol HE, Caspers E, van Haren NEM, Schnack HG, Kahn RS. Cannabis and brain morphology in recent-onset schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2004; 67:305-7. [PMID: 14984893 DOI: 10.1016/s0920-9964(03)00003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2002] [Accepted: 12/24/2002] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Hulshoff Pol HE, Schnack HG, Mandl RC, van Haren NE, Koning H, Collins DL, Evans AC, Kahn RS. Focal gray matter density changes in schizophrenia. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2001; 58:1118-25. [PMID: 11735840 DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.58.12.1118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The view that schizophrenia is a brain disease particularly involving decrements in gray matter is supported by findings from many imaging studies. However, it is unknown whether the (progressive) loss of tissue affects the brain globally or whether tissue loss is more prominent in some areas than in others. METHODS Magnetic resonance whole brain images were acquired from 159 patients with schizophrenia or a schizophreniform disorder and 158 healthy subjects across a 55-year age span. Gray matter density maps were made and analyzed using voxel-based morphometry. RESULTS Compared with healthy subjects, decreases in gray matter density were found in the left amygdala; left hippocampus; right supramarginal gyrus; thalamus; (orbito) frontal, (superior) temporal, occipitotemporal, precuneate, posterior cingulate, and insular cortices bilaterally in patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder. Compared with healthy subjects, increases in gray matter density were exclusively found in the right caudate and globus pallidus in patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder. A group-by-age interaction for density was found in the left amygdala, owing to a negative regression slope of gray matter density on age in the left amygdala in patients compared with healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS Gray matter density is decreased in distinct focal areas in the brains of patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder. The decreased density in the left amygdala is more pronounced in older patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- H E Hulshoff Pol
- Department of Psychiatry, A01.126 University Medical Center, Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Baaré WF, Hulshoff Pol HE, Boomsma DI, Posthuma D, de Geus EJ, Schnack HG, van Haren NE, van Oel CJ, Kahn RS. Quantitative genetic modeling of variation in human brain morphology. Cereb Cortex 2001; 11:816-24. [PMID: 11532887 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/11.9.816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The degree to which individual variation in brain structure in humans is genetically or environmentally determined is as yet not well understood. We studied the brains of 54 monozygotic (33 male, 21 female) and 58 dizygotic (17 male, 20 female, 21 opposite sex) pairs of twins and 34 of their full siblings (19 male, 15 female) by means of high resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans. Structural equation modeling was used to quantify the genetic and environmental contributions to phenotypic (co)variance in whole brain, gray and white matter volume of the cerebrum, lateral ventricle volume and associated variables such as intracranial volume and height. Because the cerebral cortex makes up more that two-thirds of the brain mass and almost three-quarters of its synapses, our data predominantly concerns the telencephalon. Genetic factors accounted for most of the individual differences in whole brain (90%), gray (82%) and white (88%) matter volume. Individual differences in lateral ventricle volume were best explained by a model containing common (58%) and unique (42%) environmental factors, indicating genes to be of no or minor influence. In our sample, genetic or environmental influences were not different for males and females. The same genes influenced brain volumes and intracranial volume and almost completely explained their high phenotypic correlation. Genes influencing gray and white matter overlapped to a large extent and completely determined their phenotypic correlation. The high heritability estimates that were found indicate that brain volumes may be useful as intermediate phenotypes in behavioral genetic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- W F Baaré
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Schnack HG, Hulshoff Pol HE, Baaré WF, Viergever MA, Kahn RS. Automatic segmentation of the ventricular system from MR images of the human brain. Neuroimage 2001; 14:95-104. [PMID: 11525342 DOI: 10.1006/nimg.2001.0800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
An algorithm was developed that automatically segments the lateral and third ventricles from T1-weighted 3-D-FFE MR images of the human brain. The algorithm is based upon region-growing and mathematical morphology operators and starts from a coarse binary total brain segmentation, which is obtained from the 3-D-FFE image. Anatomical knowledge of the ventricular system has been incorporated into the method in order to find all constituting parts of the system, even if they are disconnected, and to avoid inclusion of nonventricle cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) regions. A test of the method on a synthetic MR brain image produced a segmentation overlap of 0.98 between the simulated ventricles ("model") and those defined by the algorithm. Further tests were performed on a large data set of 227 1.5 T MR brain images. The algorithm yielded useful results for 98% of the images. The automatic segmentations had intra-class correlation coefficients of 0.996 for the lateral ventricles and 0.86 for the third ventricle, with manually edited segmentations. Comparison of ventricular volumes of schizophrenia patients compared with those of healthy control subjects showed results in agreement with the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- H G Schnack
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Staal WG, Hulshoff Pol HE, Schnack HG, van Haren NE, Seifert N, Kahn RS. Structural brain abnormalities in chronic schizophrenia at the extremes of the outcome spectrum. Am J Psychiatry 2001; 158:1140-2. [PMID: 11431237 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.158.7.1140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study investigated the relationship between outcome and structural brain abnormalities in schizophrenia. METHOD Intracranial volume and volumes of the cerebrum, gray and white matter, lateral and third ventricles, frontal lobes, thalamus, and cerebellum were measured in 20 patients with a poor outcome, 25 with a favorable outcome, and 23 healthy comparison subjects with magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS Thalamic volume was significantly smaller both in poor-outcome patients and good-outcome patients. In contrast, only poor-outcome patients displayed significantly smaller cerebral gray matter, particularly prefrontal, and enlargement of the lateral and third ventricles. No significant differences were found for intracranial, cerebellar, or cortical CSF volumes. CONCLUSIONS Smaller thalamic volumes in schizophrenia may reflect a greater susceptibility for the disorder and seem unrelated to outcome. In contrast, gray matter volume loss of the cerebrum, particularly in the frontal lobes, and lateral and third ventricular enlargement appear related to outcome in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- W G Staal
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
A simple automatic procedure for segmentation of gray and white matter in high resolution 1.5T T1-weighted MR human brain images was developed and validated. The algorithm is based on histogram shape analysis of MR images that were corrected for scanner nonuniformity. Calibration and validation was done on a set of 80 MR images of human brains. The automatic method's values for the gray and white matter volumes were compared with the values from thresholds set twice by the best three of six raters. The automatic procedure was shown to perform as good as the best rater, where the average result of the best three raters was taken as reference. The method was also compared with two other histogram-based threshold methods, which yielded comparable results. The conclusion of the study thus is that automated threshold based methods can separate gray and white matter from MR brain images as reliably as human raters using a thresholding procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- H G Schnack
- Department of Psychiatry, A01.126, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Baaré WF, van Oel CJ, Hulshoff Pol HE, Schnack HG, Durston S, Sitskoorn MM, Kahn RS. Volumes of brain structures in twins discordant for schizophrenia. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2001; 58:33-40. [PMID: 11146756 DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.58.1.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study was designed to examine the relative contributions of genetic and nongenetic factors to structural brain abnormalities in schizophrenia and subjects at risk to develop the disorder. METHODS The brains of 15 monozygotic and 14 same-sex dizygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia (patients) and 29 healthy twins pair-wise matched for zygosity, sex, age, and birth order were studied using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans. RESULTS Intracranial and whole-brain corrected frontal lobe volumes were smaller (4.6% and 2.7%, respectively) in discordant monozygotic twins as compared with healthy monozygotic twins. Irrespective of zygosity, discordant twins had smaller whole-brain (2%), parahippocampal (9%), and hippocampal (8%) volumes than healthy twins. Moreover, patients had smaller whole-brain volumes (2. 2%) than their nonschizophrenic cotwins, who in turn had smaller brains (1%) than healthy twins. Lateral and third-ventricle volumes were increased in discordant dizygotic twins as compared with healthy dizygotic twins (60.6% and 56.6%, respectively). Finally, within discordant twins, lateral ventricles were larger (14.4%) in patients than in their nonschizophrenic cotwins. CONCLUSIONS Smaller intracranial volumes in the monozygotic patients and their cotwins suggest that increased genetic risk to develop schizophrenia is related to reduced brain growth early in life. The additional reduction in whole-brain volume found in the patients suggests that the manifestation of the disorder is related to (neurodegenerative) processes that are most likely nongenetic in origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- W F Baaré
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate whether frontal lobe damage affects thalamic volume in humans. Ipsilateral and contralateral thalamic areas were measured in 0.5T T1-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance images in 12 patients, first at the time of their surgery for relief of a unilateral frontal lobe brain tumor and at follow-up approximately 2 years later. A 5% decrease in ipsilateral and 4.5% increase in contralateral thalamic area was found over time (F(1,11) = 6.15, p < 0.05). We conclude that unilateral frontal lobe damage results in a decrease in the ipsilateral thalamus and an increase in the contralateral thalamus in humans in vivo. The findings may have implications for the interpretation of the reported changes in thalamic volume in neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- H E Hulshoff Pol
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Hulshoff Pol HE, Hoek HW, Susser E, Brown AS, Dingemans A, Schnack HG, van Haren NE, Pereira Ramos LM, Gispen-de Wied CC, Kahn RS. Prenatal exposure to famine and brain morphology in schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry 2000; 157:1170-2. [PMID: 10873931 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.7.1170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The authors assessed the effects of nutritional deficiency during the first trimester of pregnancy on brain morphology in patients with schizophrenia. METHOD Nine schizophrenic patients and nine healthy comparison subjects exposed during the first trimester of gestation to the Dutch Hunger Winter were evaluated with magnetic resonance brain imaging, as were nine schizophrenic patients and nine healthy subjects who were not prenatally exposed to the famine. RESULTS Prenatal famine exposure in patients with schizophrenia was associated with decreased intracranial volume. Prenatal Hunger Winter exposure alone was related to an increase in brain abnormalities, predominantly white matter hyperintensities. CONCLUSIONS Nutritional deficiency during the first trimester of gestation resulted in an increase in clinical brain abnormalities and was associated with aberrant early brain development in patients with schizophrenia. Stunted brain development secondary to factors that affect brain growth during the first trimester of gestation may thus be a potential risk factor for developing schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- H E Hulshoff Pol
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Staal WG, Hulshoff Pol HE, Schnack HG, Hoogendoorn ML, Jellema K, Kahn RS. Structural brain abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia and their healthy siblings. Am J Psychiatry 2000; 157:416-21. [PMID: 10698818 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.3.416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The authors sought to investigate the contribution of genotype on structural brain abnormalities in schizophrenia. METHOD Intracranial volumes and volumes of the cerebrum, white and gray matter, lateral and third ventricles, frontal lobes, caudate nucleus, amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and the cerebellum were measured in 32 same-sex siblings discordant for schizophrenia and 32 matched comparison subjects by means of magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS Third ventricle volumes did not differ between the schizophrenic patients and their healthy siblings. However, both had higher third ventricle volumes than did the comparison subjects. The schizophrenic patients had lower cerebrum volumes than did the comparison subjects, whereas the cerebrum volume of the healthy siblings did not significantly differ from the patients or comparison subjects. Additionally, patients with schizophrenia displayed a volume reduction of the frontal lobe gray matter and a volume increase of the caudate nuclei and lateral ventricles compared to both their healthy siblings and comparison subjects. Intracranial volume, CSF volume, or volumes of the cerebellum, amygdala, hippocampus, or the parahippocampal gyrus did not significantly differ among the patients, siblings, and comparison subjects. CONCLUSIONS Healthy siblings share third ventricle enlargement with their affected relatives and may partially display a reduction in cerebral volume. These findings suggest that third ventricular enlargement, and to some extent cerebral volume decrease, may be related to genetic defects that produce a susceptibility to schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- W G Staal
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Griessen R, Wen HH, Dam B, Rector J, Schnack HG, Libbrecht S, Osquiguil E, Bruynseraede Y. Evidence for mean free path fluctuation induced pinning in YBa2Cu3O7 and YBa2Cu4O8 films. Phys Rev Lett 1994; 72:1910-1913. [PMID: 10055735 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.72.1910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
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Schnack HG, Griessen R, Lensink JG, Wen HH. Generalized inversion scheme for the determination of activation energies from flux-creep experiments in high-Tc superconductors. Phys Rev B Condens Matter 1993; 48:13178-13181. [PMID: 10007706 DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.48.13178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
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Schnack HG, Griessen R. Comment on "Exact solution for flux creep with logarithmic U(j) dependence: Self-organized critical state in high-Tc superconductors". Phys Rev Lett 1992; 68:2706. [PMID: 10045470 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.68.2706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
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